RTÉ viewers have praised Irish actress Charlene McKenna for opening up about her mental health struggles on The Tommy Tiernan Show.
The Monaghan native sat down with the popular chat show host on Saturday night and spoke to him about her family, her career and her mental health – admitting she is “mad as a box of frogs”.
The 37-year-old said: “I had a big breakdown in ’09. Twelve years ago. I really felt that the darkness took over.”
⭐️ Our next guest on the #TommyTiernanShow is actress Charlene McKenna ⭐️@Tommedian pic.twitter.com/mnBOeDlNMR
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 12, 2022
“The head went, and it hurt and everything hurt and I got scared of everything. Now looking back, I know what happened. I’d done too much, too soon, too fast, too much pressure on myself,” she explained.
“I went home, and I just fell apart… My mind was racing, with mad, various, awful, everything, nothing thoughts and it’s racing and I can’t sleep. But I didn’t know what anxiety was, I didn’t know any of these words.”
Charlene eventually sought help from a friend with a background in psychology, telling Tommy: “That got me started. That got me on the road to therapy.”
“I was totally spoiled”
Charlene McKenna talks about being the only girl in a family and growing up with five older brothers.@Tommedian #TommyTiernanShow pic.twitter.com/wR8vtzGnop
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 12, 2022
Viewers took to Twitter after watching the show to react to the “incredible” interview.
One fan tweeted: “Never normally watch the #TommyTiernanShow but I have to say this Charlene McKenna interview is incredible.”
Another wrote: “Charlene McKenna should be a national treasure if she isn’t so already!!”
Never normally watch the #TommyTiernanShow but I have to say this Charlene McKenna interview is incredible
— N Mac Aisfeil (@N_MacAisfeil) February 12, 2022
Charlene McKenna should be a national treasure if she isn’t so already!! 😀 #TommyTiernanShow
— Simon C (@Simy_78) February 12, 2022
Totally different interview to what we’ve seen before #charlenemckenna #TommyTiernanShow
— Elaine Walsh (@mabaker_moz) February 12, 2022
Charlene McKenna is an incredibly awesome soul. What an entertaining interview. #TommyTiernanShow
— Richie Duprey (@Richiedupz) February 12, 2022
Loving Charlene McKenna on the Tommy Tiernan Show @Tommedian chatting away about mental health and the interior world like this. More please!
— Sarah Bermingham (@SarahKEB) February 12, 2022
Loved Charlene McKenna interview #TommyTiernanShow fabulous actress & ‘mad as a box of frogs’ 😃 v cool 😎 honest & funny
— Fiona Reid Murphy ✨ (@FiReidMurphy) February 12, 2022
